By Emmanuel Valadez |Staff Writer|
Coyote baseball has had a less than stellar start, losing four of their first five games.
However, Coyotes received their first win in their most recent game against Holy Names University, with a final score of 5-4.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, right fielder Damion Edmonds reached second base on a double.
Following the hit, center fielder Aaron Owen hit a two-run homer to tie the game at 3-3.
Owen said “the pitcher started me off with a change up inside on the at bat before the home run and I just missed it. So in the 5th when I came up, I looked inside and he threw it again and I didn’t miss the pitch and hit it out of the park.”
In the seventh inning, second baseman Kevin Meriwether hit a single to left field.
Shortstop Grant Buchanan hit a ground ball, which allowed Meriwether to score, giving the Coyotes the lead.
Pitcher Daniel Diaz struck out two batters in the ninth, securing the first win of the year for the Coyotes.
The Coyotes dominated during the second half of the game.
Meriwether said “we knew we needed to get our first win of the season, we really executed in the later innings of the game and that made the difference for us.”
Coyotes had a tough season in 2014, finishing with a record of 13-37; however, players seek to improve this year.
Many of the players put in countless hours of hard work during the offseason.
Meriwether often visits his old high school to practice fielding and hitting, while also going to the weight room a few times a week.
Owen is having an outstanding start to the season, hitting with a .421 batting average.
Owen said, “I really put time into the weight room and also focused on staying aggressive at the plate. I made sure that I was going to be physically and mentally ready to succeed in my senior year of baseball.”
Third baseman Kevin Ouellette, who led the Coyotes in hitting last year, said, “One thing that I really focused on is using the whole field while I’m hitting. I also worked with ex Major League Baseball players that continue to help me develop as player and help me reach my goal to play Major League Baseball.”
Ouellette and Owen are in their final year of collegiate baseball, and both have a desire to play professionally.
Meriwether said, “this year we’re working a lot harder on and off the field. I feel like we have a good group of guys that can go out and compete every single day.”
The first game of conference play is at home on Thursday, Feb. 19 vs. Cal Poly Pomona at 6 p.m.
All home games are played at the Fiscalini Field at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino.
If you want to find out more about the Coyote’s schedule or more information regarding the team, go to csusbathletics.com.
Get together with your fellow Coyotes and go support our baseball team!
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